Five Questions for Nov. 21, 2012: Lydia Davis

Writer Lydia Davis, noted for her short stories as well as French translations, has authored six collections of short stories, and one novel, "The End of the Story." Awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship award in 2003, Davis is a professor of creative writing at the state University at Albany and lives in East Nassau. She will speak at the Nassau Free Library as part of its popular author's series on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.

Q What do you plan on covering in your author talk at the library?

A I will be reading recent stories and talking about how they came to be written.

Q In your novel you delve into the idea that memories from our past must be fiction. Can you tell me how you came to this idea?

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A It was the experience of writing the novel that led me to think about how undependable our memories are, and how elusive. You try to retrieve a memory and can't do it. Or you remember something one way and then find you are quite mistaken. Two people will remember the same event very differently. Eye witness accounts given to the police are often quite different. But there is also an interesting identification between the past and fiction. Stories traditionally start (in different words): "Once upon a time..." We make believe that the story told in the past tense is true. In the hands of a good storyteller we suspend disbelief and experience the (fictional) events ourselves, as real.

Q Does this idea influence how you perceive non-fiction?

A It is also the case that versions of supposedly "true" histories can be wildly inaccurate or false. We should probably read all non-fiction "with a grain of salt" -- whatever that expression really means. But at the same time, if we can, we should enjoy the blurring of the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction.

Q Who are some of the writers who influenced you and why?

A Early on, important authors for me were Kafka and Beckett, along with many others -- probably for the strangeness of their vision, for their humor, and for their curiosity about human nature. Later on, the short story writer Grace Paley for the same qualities. The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins for the strangeness and beauty of his language. Many other poets, as well.

Q Can you talk about the MacArthur award and what that meant for your career?

A That award was a great vote of confidence -- it allowed me to concentrate on following my interests wherever they led. Financially it was a great help too, of course, but since I was in the habit of working, I didn't stop working, and since I had two growing children the money was quickly spent.